Osmoregulation by the aphid Myzus persicae: A physiological role for honeydew oligosaccharides

The dry matter content of honeydew produced by Myzus persicae feeding on artificial diets increased with increasing sucrose concentrations of the diet. Whereas the diet osmolalities ranged from 828 to 1800 milliosmolal, the honeydew osmolality was relatively constant (about 500 milliosmolal). This osmoregulatory capacity is achieved largely by variations in the mean molecular weight of glucose-containing honeydew oligosaccharides.